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You can't always tell, from watching a person's behavior, how well he can take criticism.
Externally he may seem to shrug if off with a smile or a laugh, but he may really feel hurt inside,
and may brood over it when alone. It's good to remember this before you express your frank
___1___of the next nice guy's mistakes or faults. He may not be as thick-skinned as he seems.
There are two points about taking criticism yourself. One is that no matter how you may really
feel about someone else's remark, you'll get along better if you ___2___ to take it good-naturedly.
You can laugh it off (if that seems appropriate in the situation) or you can show your critic that
you're taking him seriously and ___3___ his attempt to help you. That is, try to say a gracious,
"Thank you." But whatever you do, don't pout, don't sulk, don't fly into a rage, and don't start tearing
him or her to pieces in return. That can only get you the ___4___ of being not much of a
gentleman or lady.
And the second point is this: When you're alone,
think over the remark. Try to weigh it for what it is really
worth. Was the remark true about you? If so, what can you do
about it? If you don't think it was, what was the other fellow's
___5___ in saying it? Was he
just out to hurt you? Or was he himself feeling hurt and ___6___ at you? Did you hurt him unconsciously?
At some time in your life you may receive some unfair criticism. A person who deliberately tells
untruths about you is probably showing his own jealousy. It's not easy to be
___7___ when
someone hurts you in that way, but don't forget that a person who behaves like this really needs
help. He is so insecure that he feels he must build himself up by tearing you down. The harm you
receive from such an attack will seldom be great because people will soon recognize the person who
___8___ and take his criticism of others with a pinch of salt, that is, they will not believe
everything he says about others.
Also it is good to remember this: whatever you do, there will always be someone who will
___9___ with your actions. He may not be criticizing you because he dislikes you, but because
he honestly disagrees. Everyone is ___10___ . So long as you are sure that you are acting for the
best, you should not feel hurt if not everybody agrees with your way of doing things.
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